Diamond and Schmitt Architects MEDIA RELEASE May 20, 2011

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1 Diamond and Schmitt Architects MEDIA RELEASE May 20, 2011 DIAMOND AND SCHMITT ARCHITECTS WINS CISC STEEL AWARDS Evergreen Brick Works and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute honoured for innovation TORONTO The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC) presented Diamond and Schmitt Architects with two awards at the 21 st Ontario Steel Design Awards last night. In the Green Buildings category, the Centre for Green Cities at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto received the Award of Excellence. The project involved renovating a group of heritage industrial buildings and constructing a five-storey administrative centre on top of the existing ground floor brick structure. Steel and micropiles made it possible to retain the existing brick walls that make up the building s perimeter, noted the CISC. The client was also very interested in sustainability to produce the most efficient product possible. In this case, the lightest weight structure that could be built, integrating mechanical and architectural systems was a steel-framed building supporting precast concrete floor slabs. Project architect Michael Leckman said steel allowed a visual connection to be made between the retained heritage elements and the new building. Steel was exposed wherever possible by using intumescent paint and overlapping perforated steel panels in the guard rails added a dramatic dimension. The Centre incorporates a visitor welcome centre, retail and amenity space, administrative offices, and workspace for the program partners. Structural Engineer on the project was Halsall Associates, General Contractor was Eastern Construction and Norak Steel Construction Ltd. Was the steel fabricator and detailer. In the Architectural category, the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael s Hospital received the Award of Merit for innovative use of steel. The nine-storey building features a choreographed series of connected public spaces, culminating in a series of three stacked, double-height lounges. An elegant wishbone stair connects these lounges and provides a sculptural embodiment of the aspirations of the building to promote interaction between two disciplines of research and education. The aesthetic impact of the stair, its lightness, transparency and sculptural power is made possible through the use of steel, noted the judges at CISC. Project architect Matt Smith said single bent tube stringers provided high strength to weight ratio which in combination with a fine stainless steel mesh created a light and near transparent dimension when viewed against the adjacent windows. Structural Engineer was exp. Services Inc., General Contractor was Eastern Construction and C_ore Architectural Metal was steel fabrictor, detailer and erector. At an event earlier this month, the CISC Quebec chapter awarded Diamond and Schmitt Architects and AEdifica Architects the Award of Excellence in the Commercial/Institutional category for use of steel on the new Montreal Concert Hall, to open September 7 th this year. Diamond and Schmitt Architects ( is one of Canada s leading full-service architectural practices. The firm is recognized for excellence in the design of award-winning performing arts centres, academic research buildings, commercial, residential and health care institutions. Current projects include the Faculty of Law at UBC in Vancouver, the St. Catharines Centre for the Performing Arts and Bridgepoint Hospital in Toronto. For more information on Diamond and Schmitt Architects please contact: Paul French Manager, Public Relations pfrench@dsai.ca Phone: ext. 454

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